Safety upgrades for Ballarat's Avenue of Honour are still being negotiated, following an accident on the road last week. The 22 kilometre road is lined with thousands of trees honouring men and women who served in World War 1, each with its own plaque with their names and service numbers. However, while there's been upgrades over the 102 years since trees were first planted, the dual-lane road has proved treacherous. At least seven crashes have occurred along the road in the past four years, including fatalities. Last week, a woman in her 70s was airlifted to hospital after a collision near Cardigan - it's not believed roadside trees were involved. Following this, VicRoads mentioned work was underway to improve safety, with a consultation committee formed which includes the City of Ballarat, Victoria Police, and members of the Arch of Victory/Avenue of Honour Committee. "We're in the final stages of developing a plan which we'll share with the community soon," western region director Mal Kersting said in a statement last week. "We're focused on finding an outcome which increases safety while also protecting the integrity and history of the Ballarat Avenue of Honour." Previously, family members of victims have called for wire rope barriers to prevent vehicles hitting trees - while this is still on the table, Committee members have said this is a last resort. Noel Perry, an executive member who also sits on the road safety subcommittee, said the avenue was an "icon" and needed to be protected, but the need for a safer road was growing as population growth west of Ballarat continues. "The immediate concern is the intersection at Cardigan itself, they're looking at possible options, in the short term, of signage as you approach Madden Drive and the other side, rumble strips perhaps," he said. "Also, speed zones between Dysons Road out past Cardigan, there's a need - there's certain sections of 80 along that stretch then an open 100, so we're looking at possible speed zones." READ MORE: Speed limit change for Remembrance Drive, but residents call for more He said substantial work had been done to restore the avenue for the Centenary of Anzac and its 100th anniversary, and that should be maintained. "We need long term strategies for speed zones, to ensure safety is maintained, as obviously there'll be an increase in traffic movement and people will have to appreciate you can't travel at 100km to Cardigan," he explained. "We support road safety, but also the need for the preservation of the Avenue itself, it's not just an Australian icon but a world icon." City of Ballarat councillor Daniel Moloney, who also sits on the Avenue of Honour Committee, said a roundabout at Madden Drive could also be considered. READ MORE: Call for roundabout at notorious Remembrance Drive intersection "That's still partly unfunded, and Regional Roads Victoria have been making a case to get funding for that," he said. "If we do indeed head down that path, (the design) could orientate it in a sympathetic way so there's only a couple of trees involved, not in a way that takes out older trees." The issue with the installation of wire rope barriers along the narrow road would be blocking the visual amenity of the Avenue, as well as preventing people from stopping to visit trees planted in honour of their relatives. READ MORE: Wire rope barriers along troubled Avenue of Honour welcomed "Where would you park? If you put wire rope, the distance to the bitumen would be very limited," Mr Perry said. "It could create a situation where it's unsafe." Cr Moloney agreed. "None of us on the committee want to see any dramatic changes," he said. "The last thing we want is for the Avenue to kill more people and we're conscious of that, but we want to see every other option explored first." The state government has announced a road safety forum, to be held at the Ballarat Regional Soccer Facility on July 10. READ MORE: Ballarat will play host to one of eight regional road safety forums It's hoped the public will share ideas on how to improve road safety, after a horrifying start to the year. There has been a 55 per cent increase in the amount of fatalities across Victoria in the first six months of 2019 compared to last year - more than half of them on regional roads. State Roads Minister Jaala Pulford said in a statement close-knit regional communities are often the hardest hit by the devastating and long-lasting impacts of road trauma. "Similarly, they are incredibly effective at rallying for a common cause," she said. "We're asking regional Victorians to spare a couple of hours to speak with experts and fellow community members about what more can be done to stop people dying or being seriously injured on the roads they drive every day." More information is available online.

Last week, a woman in her 70s was airlifted to hospital after a collision near Cardigan - it's not believed roadside trees were involved.

Following this, VicRoads mentioned work was underway to improve safety, with a consultation committee formed which includes the City of Ballarat, Victoria Police, and members of the Arch of Victory/Avenue of Honour Committee.

"We're in the final stages of developing a plan which we'll share with the community soon," western region director Mal Kersting said in a statement last week.

"We're focused on finding an outcome which increases safety while also protecting the integrity and history of the Ballarat Avenue of Honour."

Emergency services work to free a woman at an accident on Remembrance Drive last week. Picture: Kate Healy

Previously, family members of victims have called for wire rope barriers to prevent vehicles hitting trees - while this is still on the table, Committee members have said this is a last resort.

Noel Perry, an executive member who also sits on the road safety subcommittee, said the avenue was an "icon" and needed to be protected, but the need for a safer road was growing as population growth west of Ballarat continues.

"The immediate concern is the intersection at Cardigan itself, they're looking at possible options, in the short term, of signage as you approach Madden Drive and the other side, rumble strips perhaps," he said.

"Also, speed zones between Dysons Road out past Cardigan, there's a need - there's certain sections of 80 along that stretch then an open 100, so we're looking at possible speed zones."

He said substantial work had been done to restore the avenue for the Centenary of Anzac and its 100th anniversary, and that should be maintained.

"We need long term strategies for speed zones, to ensure safety is maintained, as obviously there'll be an increase in traffic movement and people will have to appreciate you can't travel at 100km to Cardigan," he explained.

"We support road safety, but also the need for the preservation of the Avenue itself, it's not just an Australian icon but a world icon."

City of Ballarat councillor Daniel Moloney, who also sits on the Avenue of Honour Committee, said a roundabout at Madden Drive could also be considered.

"That's still partly unfunded, and Regional Roads Victoria have been making a case to get funding for that," he said.

"If we do indeed head down that path, (the design) could orientate it in a sympathetic way so there's only a couple of trees involved, not in a way that takes out older trees."

The issue with the installation of wire rope barriers along the narrow road would be blocking the visual amenity of the Avenue, as well as preventing people from stopping to visit trees planted in honour of their relatives.

It's hoped the public will share ideas on how to improve road safety, after a horrifying start to the year.

There has been a 55 per cent increase in the amount of fatalities across Victoria in the first six months of 2019 compared to last year - more than half of them on regional roads.

State Roads Minister Jaala Pulford said in a statement close-knitregional communities are often the hardest hit by the devastating and long-lasting impacts of road trauma.

"Similarly, they are incredibly effective at rallying for a common cause," she said.

"We're asking regional Victorians to spare a couple of hours to speak with experts and fellow community members about what more can be done to stop people dying or being seriously injured on the roads they drive every day."